[SkyWolf11]

Silva could tell by Lu's face that she was repressing laughter at his fall into the mud even though she had turned to keep him from seeing.  Oh well...he deserved it more than likely.  He gave her a goofy grin then wiped away as much mud as he could from his fur.  

Relief washed over him as the cool grass caressed his caked paws.  Now maybe he could keep his balance.  Light as the mist was, it still engulfed him up to his chest.  He shivered at its warmth and longed for the springs.  Especially now that he was in need of a good soaking.  

"Wonder how far we're from it now."  He whispered to himself.  "Let me get a better view."  He purred, heading for the nearest tree.  It didn't take long for him to hike up the tree using his claws, speed, and balance.  Walking out onto a sturdy branch he scanned the surrounding area, but the mist obstructed his vision more than he wished.  From what he could figure...they were lost.

((Cliff-hanger - sort of  XD))

{9}

[clackno1]

The laughter had disappeared from her now. She sat down to watch Silva climb the tree. She looked around at the sea of mist. The mist had messed with her sinuses again, so she could smell nothing. Where are the springs? The mud on her belly had dried and was now cracked and stuck to her fur. She felt stiff and clumsy, but tried not to show it."See anything!" She called up to him.

She felt distressed, her most useful sense was not working, and she felt blind to the world. What a morning this has turned out to be, lost in the forest with an Elder khuna caked with mud. At least this is better than nothing, but she could do without the mud.

[SkyWolf11]

Normalcy was not what this day was.  Meeting another kuhna, falling in mud, and now lost to his knowledge.  Wow what a day this was becoming.  

"Ummm...."  He searched for the right words.  "...well other than the mist and trees...not really."  He hated to admit it.

Carefully sliding back down the tree, he clung to the bark tightly, hoping it's rough surface would detach some of the dried mud.  It worked fairly good.  At least now he could move without it pulling his fur painfully.  Reaching the forest floor, he broke off the remaining pieces.  Despite having gotten all the mud off, his fur was stained an ugly brown.  

"I guess we're just going to have to wing it from here."  He shrugged.  He wish he could be more useful, but he was no expert guide in this forest.  He had only recently just started visiting, having heard of the springs.  He knew only the regular route he used and now it was no where in sight.  The mist was only complicating things further.  He sighed heavily and paced back and forth thinking to himself.  

{10 = level 3}

[clackno1]

Lu calmed herself, trying make her senses stronger, besides her sense of smell. She took a deep breathe and watched Silva's flames dance in the wind. She got an idea,"Maybe we should follow the wind, the wind must have blown this mist from somewhere, so if we go in the opposite direction of the wind, then maybe we'll find the springs." She stood up and watched Silva's flames go in one direction, then started heading in the opposite. The mist around her got thicker and she felt completely blind, so blind that she has to feel her way through the forest.

She stepped on a twig and gave a small yelp. She bounced forward and gave another, more surprising yelp as she disappeared in a cloud of mist. The sound of rocks could be falling from somewhere in the mist. A small scrabbling noise could also be heard, but after that silence.

[SkyWolf11]

Silva stopped and observed the wind moving the mists.  He smiled.  "Great thinking!"  He followed her with no objections.

As the fog began to thicken, he felt his skin begin to crawl.  He peered ahead.  Lu wasn't there!  He couldn't have been no more than 3 feet behind her yet he saw no hide nor hair of her - not even a faint outline.  Fear swept over him;  he had a strong sense of danger.  

Suddenly, the sharp snap of a twig froze his blood still, followed by yelps and shifting rocks.  He instantly knew what had happened.  "Lu!"  He called out, blind in the fog.  "Oh no..."  He whined.  A sick feeling formed in the pit of his stomach as his thoughts raced through all the possible results of Lu's fall.  Fear crept into his being as well.  Not for himself but Lu's safety.  

Why did he care so much?  He didn't know her too well but he was still concerned deeply.  Maybe it was his personality?  Not even he knew.  Creeping forward quickly, he tried to find his footing on the wet rocks.  He moved clumsily as he inched towards the drop-off.  

He called out again, hoping to get a response.  "Lu!"

{11}

[clackno1]

A small voice came from the mist,"Um...Silva, your standing on my paw." Lu was dangling from a small cliff, not big enough that she would kill herself, but big enough that she would rather hang on to the edge than fall. Her claws were dug deep into the earth to get a strong hold, but not strong enough to hold her for more than five minutes. She was only able to latch one paw onto the side as she fell. below her was only mist, but she could make a good guess at how far down it is. As she felt Silva's paw on her own her grip loosened and she tried to stay calm. Though she could almost tell how far down it is, she could not tell if there are sharp rocks at the bottom.

[SkyWolf11]

His eyes focused to the sights and he jumped back.  "Oh my bad!"  He squeaked, grabbing for her paw.  In all the confusion he never noticed she had managed to catch herself before falling completely to the bottom of the drop.  He felt really stupid now.  Sky had always told him he was overly dramatic.  Now he confirmed that.

Clenching a nearby sapling with his teeth and wrapping his free paw around it, he attempted to pull her up enough to get a good foothold.  The shifting rocks made him stumble many times but he managed to stay on his feet.  

{12}

[clackno1]

Lu scrabbled up the cliff side with the help of Silva. She dusted herself off, seeming as calm as ever,"So, how worried were you about me?" She said with a smirk. She retracted her claws and faced him, her fur gently blowing in the breeze. She had heard the fear in his voice, and she wanted to know if it was real, or if he was faking.

She could smell again, thankfully, and knew that they were close to the springs. Most of the dried mud had been scraped of as she was pulling herself up, and the mist had turned a bit of it to mud, which soaked down deeper into her fur. Her eyes were filled with playfulness and question. She was serious about this question, as she usually was, and she was curious to know his answer. She could still feel a bit of fear clinging to her. Dangling over the side of a cliff, wasn't everyday for her, of course, but it had happened before today and she had known that she would probably almost fall of again with all the mist.

[SkyWolf11]

He blushed at her question.  He felt his bumbling personality surface.  "Oh well...I...umm... was kinda worried..."  He stammered, looking at the ground to avoid her stare.

"Okay I was pretty worried.  I mean..."  He rambled on into a low whisper only he could hear.  He looked up and locked his eyes with hers.  They hypnotized him for a few seconds before he broke away and stared at the ground again.  He could feel his cheeks becoming warmer as his blush became a faint red.  

Why did he have to be with a female?  They always made him feel awkward and blush.  Did he like her?  Or was it just the fact she was well... a she?  Regardless, he wished he could bury his head into the ground right now.  

((Teehee - shy boy  X3))

{13}

[clackno1]

Lu could feel his awkwardness as he locked his eyes with her's. She stood up and started walking towards the springs."Well, don't just sit there staring at the ground, come on." She bounded forward as fast as she could. Maybe Silva would be up for a little play. She jumped over a fallen log with ease. The log was old and dead. Some of the bark had fallen off and it had already started to brake apart. She slowed down to a jog to allow Silva to catch up. She could feel the warm mist soak into her fur and gave her a feeling of comfort as she got closer and closer to the springs. She stopped and shook her fur, trying to get rid of the access water. The ground became softer under her feet and more rocks appeared.

[SkyWolf11]

He was relieved when the object of interest was no longer him.  He smiled and rushed after her.  "Right right."  He made it over the log as easily as she had.

Once he caught up with her, he drank in the warm mist, making himself shiver with pleasure.  He was finally going to get that dip he so deperately wanted.  Slipping over the increasing amounts of rocks he laughed and turned to Lu.  

"I think we found it!  Finally!  Warm waters here I come!"  He picked up his speed and vanished through the mist.  Splashing of water could be heard along with rocks shifting.  

{14}

[clackno1]

Lu giggled and bounded after Silva. She splashed through the water and watched as the water lapped at the rocky shore. Her smile turned to surprise as she realised that the water was cold, the same as river water or pond water. Why aren't the springs warm, like they should be, or is this a spring at all.

"Silva." She called his name, wondering where he went. He couldn't have gone too far. She waded farther into the water. It was up to her belly now. She felt uncomfortable here, and the mist made it worse. She couldn't see 2 feet in front of her. She felt the water get deeper, and wondered how deep it got.

Lu felt something brush her foot and she jumped back in surprise. She looked around at the murky water, her eyes filled with fear. Her head filled with unanswered questions. Where is Silva? Is he alright? What brushed her foot? Too many questions rushed through her head so she couldn't think straight. She wobbled to one side and lost her footing.

[SkyWolf11]

"Silva."  He heard a muffled voice call for him.

He had fallen into the surprisingly cold water and was slightly shocked.  Trying to climb up onto the rock bank, a sharp pain shot up his right hind leg and he slid back into the water.  'Oh perfect...'  He thought, moving back up the embankment a few inches.  When he fell he had twisted his leg in the wrong way.  

With the help of a few sturdy rocks, he managed to finally get his body onto dry land.  The warm touch of the mist against his drenched body made him feel sick.  This was no hot spring!  Why was it so cold?  And why was the mist around it warm if it wasn't?  He ignored the questions as he tried to figure out what had happened.  Suddenly, he remembered and the shock left him.  

"Lu?"  His voice was shaky.  He limbed along the bank, scanning the water.  He hoped she hadn't fallen in as well.  The mist made it difficult to see.  He shivered but kept looking.  The silver flames on his tails flickered pitifully.  He heard small dunking noises out further in the water but couldn't tell if they were Lu or not.

"Lu?"  He called out again.

{15 = level 4}

[clackno1]

Lu had fallen and twisted her ankle. She huddled in the shoulder deep water. Suddenly, she saw something coming towards her. It was murky and it looked only like a shadow, until she saw the small glow coming from it as it came closer. She mad a gasp of horror and was frozen with terror. She sat there, her eyes wide. The shape took up speed and was racing towards her. Her ankle shocked with pain and she winced. The shape halted in front of her. She tried to edge backwards towards the shore, but she couldn't see the shore. She was helpless. She wanted to cry out but she choked with terror. The shape started to rise out of the water and she saw that the shape she had seen was only the head of something bigger. She started to shake uncontrollably. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't be able to watch her own demise. Her ankle gave another jolt of pain and she able to cry out, but quickly bit her lip.

[SkyWolf11]

A shadow out in the water caught Silva's attention.  He smiled but the fear quickly returned.  That thing looked bigger than any kuhna.  

He winced as another jolt of pain raced up from his foot.  He wobbled sideways and caught himself before he toppled over.  The uncertainty of the shadow made hit bite his tongue.  He dared not make a sound for he was in no condition to fight.  

However, his curiosity egged him closer to the water.  Bobbing his head, he inched forward.  He was focusing so much on the shadow that he began to get a headache.  He just had to know what it was.  He stepped into the water making a soft splash.  

He froze...waiting to see if whatever it was would react.

{16}